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UNITED STATES–JORDAN DEFENSE COOPERATION

ACT OF 2014

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

H.R. 5648

NOVEMBER 19, 2014

Serial No. 113–222

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ or

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/

(II)

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

MATT SALMON, Arizona 

TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania 

JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina 

ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois 

MO BROOKS, Alabama 

TOM COTTON, Arkansas 

PAUL COOK, California 

GEORGE HOLDING, North Carolina 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania 

STEVE STOCKMAN, Texas 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

DOUG COLLINS, Georgia 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

SEAN DUFFY, Wisconsin 

CURT CLAWSON, Florida 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

KAREN BASS, California 

WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

JUAN VARGAS, California 

BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER, Illinois 

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III, Massachusetts 

AMI BERA, California 

ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii 

JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas

AMY PORTER, Chief of Staff THOMAS SHEEHY, Staff Director

JASON STEINBAUM, Democratic Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois 

TOM COTTON, Arkansas 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

DOUG COLLINS, Georgia 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

SEAN DUFFY, Wisconsin 

CURT CLAWSON, Florida 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

JUAN VARGAS, California 

BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER, Illinois 

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III, Massachusetts 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP OF 

H.R. 5648, To improve defense cooperation between the United States and 

the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ..................................................................... 2

APPENDIX 

Markup notice .......................................................................................................... 14

Markup minutes ...................................................................................................... 15

Markup summary .................................................................................................... 16

The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, a Representative in Congress from the 

Commonwealth of Virginia: Prepared statement .............................................. 17

(1)

UNITED STATES–JORDAN DEFENSE 

COOPERATION ACT OF 2014

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA,

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

Washington, DC. 

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:05 p.m., in room 

2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 

(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Subcommittee will come to order. I know 

that we will have votes pretty soon, so it is going to be a little 

tricky to do all this, but we can. 

Pursuant to notice, I call up the bill, H.R. 5648, the United 

States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2014, for purposes of 

markup. Without objection, it will be considered as read, and sections 1 through 3, the portions within this committee’s jurisdiction, 

are open for amendment at any point. 

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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. After opening remarks by me and the ranking member, I will be glad to recognize any member seeking recognition to speak on this bill. 

As we know, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the 

greatest allies in the Middle East. In 1996, the United States recognized the Kingdom as a major non-NATO ally. In 2000, the 

United States and Jordan signed a free trade agreement that went 

into effect in 2001. In 2010, the U.S. and Jordan signed a $275 million compact through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. 

Not only have the bilateral ties between both nations been 

strong, but Jordan continues to be a large player in regional efforts. In the midst of the conflict in Syria and Iraq, Jordan has 

played a central role to the international response to both humanitarian crises. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 

estimates that more than 600,000 Syrians have registered as refugees in Jordan. 

In addition, the Kingdom estimates that another 800,000 refugees—listen to those numbers—have been assimilated into local 

communities outside the refugee camps, bringing the total of Syrian refugees in Jordan to 1.4 million people. This amount is in addition to the other refugees that Jordan has already taken through 

the years from the West Bank and Iraq. The population influx has 

put a severe strain on the infrastructure and the economy of Jordan that is dangerously unsustainable. 

In June, Ranking Member Ted Deutch and I had the pleasure of 

visiting Jordan to witness firsthand the challenges that the Kingdom is facing. The message that our delegation gave the King was 

simple: The United States Congress supports Jordan, we will continue to help ensure that Jordan remains stable, because by providing stability, Jordan is an essential piece of the United States’ 

Middle East strategy and will continue to play an important role 

in the many challenges that we face, such as fighting terrorism 

from ISIL, stability in Iraq, playing a role between the Israelis and 

the Palestinians. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, and I hope that both nations can work 

together to calm tensions currently in the region. However, we 

must analyze the current situation on the ground carefully and 

must be proactive in supporting our allies. We cannot wait for the 

ISIL threat to directly arrive to Jordan’s doorstep for Congress to 

act. More needs to be done to bolster the Kingdom’s ability. 

And I have more to say, but I know that time is short, so I will 

now turn to my good friend, Congressman Ted Deutch, our ranking 

member, for his opening remarks. 

Mr. DEUTCH. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity. I know how hard you worked on this legislation. This is 

a bill that clearly highlights the importance of regional cooperation 

with Jordan. And because I know we are short on time and out of 

respect for our colleagues, I would like to give them the opportunity to speak, I will yield back the balance of my time. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you very much. I should have yielded 

way before also. What was I thinking? 

Mr. Chabot of Ohio is recognized. 

Mr. CHABOT. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

10

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I get choked up just thinking about you, 

Steve. 

Mr. CHABOT. I appreciate that, and I will be very brief. I just 

want to commend you for bringing this legislation before the subcommittee today. Jordan is a longtime friend and ally of the United 

States and sits in a very dangerous part of the world. Over the 

years, it has taken in refugees from throughout the region, whether 

it be the Palestinians or Iraqis or most recently Syrians who have 

fled the hostilities in that beleaguered nation. 

This measure recognizes those realities and reasserts our support 

for a continued strong alliance with our Jordanian ally. It is a 

timely measure, and I would urge its adoption. Thank you for 

bringing it forward. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, Mr. Chabot. 

Mr. Connolly. 

Mr. CONNOLLY. Thank you, Madam Chairman. 

The United States and the Kingdom of Jordan have a long and 

close collaborative relationship. It has promoted our national security and regional stability for many years. Jordan is a major nonNATO ally and a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security 

Council. It has been the recipient of funding from several U.S. foreign assistance programs over decades. They are an essential player in the region from our point of view, obviously. I commend the 

work you have done, and I would ask that the balance of my statement be entered into the record in full. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Without objection, all members’ statements 

will be made a part of the record. 

Senator Cotton is recognized. 

Mr. COTTON. I yield back the balance of my time in a manner 

very unfitting of a Senator-elect. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I know. You will rue the day. You will never 

do that again. 

Mr. CONNOLLY.I have never heard a Senator do that, Madam 

Chairman, ever. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Unprecedented. 

And so, Mr. Kinzinger, we will go to you then, sir. 

Mr. KINZINGER. I have no statement. I also yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Okay. Thank you. 

Mr. DeSantis. 

Mr. DESANTIS. Yield back to you, Madam Chair. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Dr. Yoho. 

Mr. YOHO. I yield back also. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Oh, boy, oh, boy. The pressure is on, Mr. 

Schneider. Please speak. 

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Thank you. I will just add the comments and associate with what has already been said. Jordan is a key ally in 

a critical region, and we need to make sure they have the support 

they need to deal with the many crises they face. Thank you for 

calling this hearing and introducing this legislation. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, sir. We will miss you. But we 

still are not done. We will be meeting once again. Thank you, Brad. 

And Ms. Meng is recognized. 

Ms. MENG. I have no statement, Madam Chairwoman. I yield 

back my time. 

11

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you. 

Mr. Vargas. 

Mr. VARGAS. As a lowly freshman, I will yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Well, thank you so much. Oh, I am so sorry, 

Mr. Higgins. 

Mr. HIGGINS. I just walked in. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Oh, I apologize. Thank you, Mr. Higgins. 

Mr. HIGGINS. I will yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All right. Thank you. 

So no other members seek recognition to speak on the bill. Are 

there any amendments? Hearing no further amendments, the 

Chair moves to report the bill favorably to the full committee. 

All in favor, say aye. 

All opposed, no. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The motion is approved. The bill is reported favorably to the full committee with 

thanks to my colleagues for their support, their input, cooperation. 

That concludes today’s markup, and the subcommittee stands adjourned, but we will reconvene right after votes. Not right now, Mr. 

Acevedo? After votes. Darn it. Too bad. We could get some stuff 

done before. Who needs those witnesses. 

No, just kidding. Thank you very much. So the subcommittee is 

adjourned, and we will come back after the votes. Thank you. 

[Whereupon, at 2:10 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] 

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A P P E N D I X 

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